Astorino Picks NYS Sheriffs' Association President As GOP Running Mate

ALBANY, N.Y. (CBSNewYork/AP) - The Republican candidate for governor has selected an upstate New York sheriff to be his running mate.

Rob Astorino announced Tuesday in a video that Chemung County Sheriff Christopher Moss is his pick to run for lieutenant governor.

The selection could help Astorino appeal to conservatives and voters in rural New York.

The 46-year-old Moss joined the sheriff's office in 1989 and has been sheriff since 2006. He is an outspoken critic of the tougher gun laws championed last year by Gov. Andrew Cuomo. Moss is African-American and leads the New York State Sheriffs' Association.

Elmira, N.Y. is within Chemung County.

Astorino currently serves as the Westchester County executive. Republicans are gathering this week in Westchester to nominate candidates for the fall elections.

Cuomo, a Democrat, is expected to announce his running mate soon. Lt. Gov. Robert Duffy decided not to run.

Astorino made his candidacy official in a video posted to his website in March. He has made the economy a large part of his platform.

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